PRESEASON TRAINING: Wednesday 19th February 2025

[old dee 24,083]

3 hours ago, Sydee said:

Based on what Ive been reading on training reports that sounds v unlikely 

Hardly setting the world on fire in Match sims - still a very long way off it seems 

It's make or break for Jefferson in 2025. If he is still not in the possibles for round 1 I worry will he ever be? The fact we have selected a few Forwards/ second ruck types does not bode well for confidence by the FD. 

[Oxdee 538]

15 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

4 key position players in the side don't think so. Howes is a certainty to play.

Howe is 191cm. Hardly short 

[Ghostwriter 5,460]

18 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Will there be a training session on a Saturday? I have Fridays off but am too busy Fridays but Saturdays I'm free. Cheers 

Training is on a Saturday when it’s a Captain’s Run before a Sunday match. So, you should have several opportunities this season. 😭

[forever demons 2,369]

6 hours ago, picket fence said:

In the Hun Dees report today guess the ONLY PLAYER who wasn't rated?? Pathetic reporting from this newspaper!🤮

you sound surprised,its rag i have not read for 20 years

[forever demons 2,369]

1 hour ago, old dee said:

It's make or break for Jefferson in 2025. If he is still not in the possibles for round 1 I worry will he ever be? The fact we have selected a few Forwards/ second ruck types does not bode well for confidence by the FD. 

Yep reckon he is behind Jonhson who I want straight in ,big body and agressive forward we have craved since neita and shcwart

[Roost it far 10,138]

4 hours ago, BLWNBA said:

Agreed on this. 

How do you have a defence with May, Lever, Petty and TMac? 

[Bowserpower 169]

1 hour ago, Oxdee said:

Howe is 191cm. Hardly short 

I think Howes will be the flexible tall

[demonzz 140]

22 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

I asked Chat GPT (as well as requesting a positive spin): The Melbourne Demons hit the track at Casey Fields today for an intense and focused training session, giving fans a glimpse of their preparations for the 2025 AFL season. The team worked through a variety of drills, honing their skills, refining strategies, and pushing their fitness levels to ensure they’re in top shape for the year ahead.

A standout moment was the inclusion of new recruit Jack Henderson, who seamlessly integrated into the squad. His energy and determination were on full display, and he’s already showing great promise as a valuable addition to the team.

While Shane McAdam will unfortunately miss the season due to injury, the team remains united and determined, with players stepping up to fill the void and drive the club forward. The Demons are rallying together, showcasing their depth and resilience as they prepare for a strong campaign.

The club has shared a training gallery from today's session, allowing fans to relive the action and see their favorite players in action. With the season fast approaching, the energy around the club is electric, and excitement is building for what promises to be an exciting year for the red and blue!

Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to back the Dees in 2025! 🔴🔵

Go Norsca.!!!

[demonzz 140]

2 hours ago, Oxdee said:

Howe is 191cm. Hardly short 

This lad needs to play, he is  begging for it .   Will produce if given a good run.

[binman 44,825]

46 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

How do you have a defence with May, Lever, Petty and TMac? 

Because whilst yes, tmac is tall he doesn't play as a KPD - he plays as a tall half back flanker

Howes and tmac are playing for much the same position I reckon.

And tmac has first dibs - he's had a great preseason and he was arguably our best defender last year.

[ANG13 2,110]

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

How do you have a defence with May, Lever, Petty and TMac? 

You don’t. 

[Roost it far 10,138]

45 minutes ago, binman said:

Because whilst yes, tmac is tall he doesn't play as a KPD - he plays as a tall half back flanker

Howes and tmac are playing for much the same position I reckon.

And tmac has first dibs - he's had a great preseason and he was arguably our best defender last year.

Would you pick those 4 in the back half together?

Edited February 20 by Roost it far

[DubDee 26,675]

Don’t be surprised if Hore is in the 22 come round 1

[DubDee 26,675]

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

How do you have a defence with May, Lever, Petty and TMac? 

Don’t worry, at least one of them will be injured come round 1

[Gator 18,053]

I highly doubt that May, Lever, Petty and McDonald will all play against a Giants side that loves its small pressure forwards.

At Casey, during one of the intraclubs, it was Howes who went to Pickett late in the game when he went to full forward.

There may not be a huge difference in height between Howes and McDonald, and yes, Harley Reid made Howes look silly, but I'll be very surprised if Howes doesn't line up in round 1.  I'll be just as surprised if McDonald does.  Btw, McDonald has been good in the sessions I've attended, but the balance just doesn't work.

[Fat Tony 5,337]

36 minutes ago, Gator said:

I highly doubt that May, Lever, Petty and McDonald will all play against a Giants side that loves its small pressure forwards.

At Casey, during one of the intraclubs, it was Howes who went to Pickett late in the game when he went to full forward.

There may not be a huge difference in height between Howes and McDonald, and yes, Harley Reid made Howes look silly, but I'll be very surprised if Howes doesn't line up in round 1.  I'll be just as surprised if McDonald does.  Btw, McDonald has been good in the sessions I've attended, but the balance just doesn't work.

You’re definitely right about the balance of the side being out with four tall defenders.

I want to see Petty forward in Round 1. TMac is a better fit, as he is more mobile. 

[DeeSpencer 26,680]

2 hours ago, binman said:

Because whilst yes, tmac is tall he doesn't play as a KPD - he plays as a tall half back flanker

Howes and tmac are playing for much the same position I reckon.

And tmac has first dibs - he's had a great preseason and he was arguably our best defender last year.

He turns like the queen Mary, will fly in the air for intercepts which goes from a good thing to a problem when 4 guys are doing it and whilst his ball use was mostly good last year (with brief dashes of very bad) he isn’t going to give the run and carry like a flanker.

I feel sorry for Tom if he misses out and you’re right he was our best key back last year, but unless Petty is moved forward I just don’t see it. I’m not a big Howes fan, he has to lock down a spot this year. But I’m willing to give him first go.

4 talls isn’t totally crazy and GWS have Stringer and Toby who both provide tricky match ups - arguably you could use Petty on Stringer and May on Toby. But they’ll also have 3 quick little guys buzzing around sweating on ageing defenders.

[Ghostwriter 5,460]

3 hours ago, demonzz said:

This lad needs to play, he is  begging for it .   Will produce if given a good run.

Has a great attitude too, does Howesy. Always super positive. Always keen af in whatever he’s doing. I reckon he’d be a joy to coach. 

[monoccular 17,760]

On 19/02/2025 at 18:57, Return to Glory said:

Here's the slightly less positive spin from Chat GPT: 

The Melbourne Football Club’s Doomsday Training Run at Casey Fields

February 19, 2025. The once-proud Melbourne Football Club, now a shadow of its former self, staggers onto the training grounds at Casey Fields, where even the bright sun seems to shy away from the looming clouds of despair. The air, thick with tension and dust, mirrors the state of the team as they face an unrelenting onslaught of injuries, misfortune, and dwindling hope.

The training session begins with a faint attempt at match simulation, but the players seem distant, their minds haunted by the growing list of absentees. Jack Viney’s laps are slow and labored, an eerie reflection of the team’s decline, a reminder that the once vibrant energy of the squad has now been replaced by a palpable sense of dread. Even the simplest drills seem like an impossible task as the atmosphere grows colder, more foreboding with each passing moment.

Shane McAdam’s Achilles injury—an ominous sign—looms large over the club. He’s been sent off for surgery, leaving the team without another key player as they hurtle toward the abyss of an injury-ravaged season. The whispers of discontent grow louder; every player feels the weight of the world on their shoulders. There’s no respite.

In the background, the arrival of Jack Henderson feels more like a desperate attempt to fill a void than a true solution to the ongoing crisis. The club’s future seems uncertain, and each training session feels like one more nail in the coffin. The fans, once hopeful, now watch with growing unease, wondering if their beloved club will ever rise from the ashes or if this is simply the beginning of a long, drawn-out fall into obscurity.

As the session winds down, the team retreats, their energy spent. The future of the Melbourne Football Club appears bleak, a far cry from the glory days that now feel like distant memories. No one speaks of the premiership dream anymore. In the shadows of Casey Fields, all that remains is the crushing weight of reality: the end may be closer than anyone dares to admit.

That reads like the product of very artificial, low acuity intelligence. 

23 hours ago, picket fence said:

Nar mate, I'm fine, at beautiful Apollo Bay trying to crank a few Salmon! Away for another 5 weeks but rest assured reading all training reports with interest, back to normal reporting at Snake Central after round 2!!😎🪱

Mr fence - you worry about snakes at Casey, then you holiday near the Ottways? 😮😮🐍🐍

[monoccular 17,760]

On 19/02/2025 at 14:51, The analyser said:

Tom Campbell certainly keeping Gawny  on his toes, which is great.

Very important to have a solid competitor : Majak Daw’s contribution to Max’s dominance in our 🏆is greatly underrated by any who just look at his AFL stats for 2021. 

Edited February 20 by monoccular

[binman 44,825]

4 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Would you pick those 4 in the back half together?

Yes. 

Gator makes a good point about GWS' forward line having small pressure forwards, so perhaps not round one.

But it's best to think of the defence as a back seven, not six.

And it's worth noting that in OR last season we ran with Tomlinson, Howes, Lever and May.

And round one, albeit against a tall dogs forward line, we ran with Hore, Lever, May, Howes and Tmac.

[RedLegs23 1,139]

1 hour ago, Fat Tony said:

You’re definitely right about the balance of the side being out with four tall defenders.

I want to see Petty forward in Round 1. TMac is a better fit, as he is more mobile. 

A fit Petty will be a real handful at either end this year

[Roost it far 10,138]

7 hours ago, binman said:

Yes. 

Gator makes a good point about GWS' forward line having small pressure forwards, so perhaps not round one.

But it's best to think of the defence as a back seven, not six.

And it's worth noting that in OR last season we ran with Tomlinson, Howes, Lever and May.

And round one, albeit against a tall dogs forward line, we ran with Hore, Lever, May, Howes and Tmac.

Personally I think if we're adapting our gameplan to me more attacking that has to start in defence. Windsor, McVee and Salem with Bowey as the seventh are my first picks alongside May, Lever, Petty/TMac. As for Howes, I think he's backup only still. I think he can develop into a best 22 but thats partly just hope. I'd love Adams to make it but from the gist of reports he's in the Jefferson camp of not quite ready/perhaps never ready. I think with the recruitment of Lindsay and if Petty stays our back 6/7 looks to have a reasonable future beyond Lever/May/Salem which shows the quality of recruiting over the last 5 years.

Edited February 20 by Roost it far

[Roost it far 10,138]

TMac's form must beg the question. Does the team persist with Petty forward and allow TMac to play as the third tall in defence? I realise Petty's form last season wasn't great but he was coming off no preseason and a nasty injury. I guess if TMac is able which he certainly appears to be then who becomes the best forward option out of Petty, Johnson and Jefferson? Personally I like Petty in defence and feel he's the obvious May replacement next year but TMac's inability to age keeps the question open I think.

Edited February 20 by Roost it far

[binman 44,825]

15 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Personally I think if we're adapting our gameplan to me more attacking that has to start in defence. Windsor, McVee and Salem with Bowey as the seventh are my first picks alongside May, Lever, Petty/TMac. As for Howes, I think he's backup only still. I think he can develop into a best 22 but thats partly just hope. I'd love Adams to make it but from the gist of reports he's in the Jefferson camp of not quite ready/perhaps never ready. I think with the recruitment of Lindsay and if Petty stays our back 6/7 looks to have a reasonable future beyond Lever/May/Salem which shows the quality of recruiting over the last 5 years.

We're not adapting our game plan. As goody noted we were trying to implement a fast transition game for much of last year.

And yet, despite that we went tall down back in the first third of last season.

But you make a good point about Windsor going back changing the mix, though you could argue he is replacing Rivers, who didn't start playing midfield 'till the last third of the season.

Leaving the mix of talls and mediums aside, I just can't see tmac not playing down back round one.

One of best defenders last year, is having one of his best preseasons ever - and the first in years where he has no foot issues.

Can run all day, and whilst I agree with DS that he has turning circle of a boat, he looks in ripping nick and is as thin and athletic as ive ever seen him.

I'd add that he is one of our most reliable field kicks, which is absolutely critical to being able to implement a transition method.

Turnovers from defence kill teams these days. May and Lever ate both very hit and miss with those short 20 to 30 kicks out of defence that are so important. Tmac on the other hand is rock solid.